Boats with Palestinians sink off Egypt coast

Two boats transporting Palestinians refugees escaping the civil war in Syria sank near the coast of Egypt, activists said. The approximately 60 Palestinians onboard were reportedly headed for Italy. The owners of the two boats managed to escape upon the arrival of the Egyptian Coast Guard. One of the boats sank in Egyptian territorial waters and the passengers were rescued and taken to a hospital in Alexandria for medical treatment. However the other boat sank in international waters and the survivors are currently trapped on an island, in need of urgent help. A reports issued by activists working to improve the situation of Palestinian refugees in Syria, said Palestinian camps are caught in the crossfire between government troops and the opposition, resulting in the death of approximately 1400 people, whilst 80 percent of the population of the camps have so far fled.